The entry of telcos into the pay-TV provider market has generated a lot of press over the last few years. Large telecom operators like France Telecom and PCCW now offer TV services. Equipment suppliers are making moves based on their expectations for this developing market such as Cisco buying Scientific Atlanta.
As the telcos begin offering broadcast TV packages, cable and satellite providers have layered on additional services like Video-On-Demand, HDTV, and Digital Video Recording. Telcos will need to offer these as well in order to be competitive. Additionally, telcos want to take advantage of their two-way networks to add more services and applications that will differentiate themselves from their cable and satellite competitors.
In December 2005, we surveyed our Technology Adoption Panel, a dynamic, online panel of more than 15,000 US technology users and decision-makers interested in contributing their opinions and insights about technology usage and technology issues in the workplace and at home. We gauged consumer interest in emerging interactive applications that telcos are looking to provide including:
- Time Shifted TV
- Follow Me TV
- Remote Programming
- Remote Parental Control
- Interactive Information
- Interactive Purchases
- TV on the Go
- Caller ID on TV
- Call Logging
- Do Not Disturb
- Voice Mail
- Voice Telephony via TV
- Watch TV with Online Friends
- Video Telephony/Video Chat
- Video Surveil
The entry of telcos into the pay-TV provider market has generated a lot of press over the last few years. Large telecom operators like France Telecom and PCCW now offer TV services.